The Power of Philanthropy John G
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UMASS MEDICINE Annual Report of Donors 2011 the power of philanthropy John G. O’Brien (left) and Michael F. Collins, MD the power of leadership It is our pleasure to present this Annual Report of Donors for the 2011 fiscal year. As with past editions, this publication serves to celebrate the generosity of our donors, as well as showcase the very real impact of their contributions for, and partnership with, UMass Medical School and UMass Memorial Health Care. As you will see in the dynamic stories presented within these pages, commitments of private funds are vital to the advancement of medical knowledge and education, and the implementation of new methods of health care delivery at our academic health sciences center. Those advancements are what enable us to fulfill our critical and joint mission of advancing the health and well-being of the people in the commonwealth and the world. The formula for our future success, and that of our entire academic health sciences center, relies on a number of components. Key among those are philanthropy and, more specifically, our generous advocates whose steadfast financial support propels us forward in the fulfillment of our mission. As public funds become less plentiful, charitable donations become even more essential to our future. The generosity demonstrated by so many clearly signifies a powerful commitment to our work and the communities we serve. It also signifies that philanthropy has the power to inspire future health care practitioners, encourage researchers, enhance care and support those in need. We are extremely grateful that the philanthropic activities of so many include the important work being conducted here, and we feel privileged to acknowledge the names of those individuals and organizations who provided financial support to UMass Medical School and UMass Memorial Health Care in the last fiscal year. Whether made to the UMass ALS Champion Fund, to cancer research and care, to the Fund-A-Need project during the Winter Ball, to a volunteer program or to a fund supporting patients and families with extraordinary financial needs, all gifts make a difference. On behalf of our united institutions, we humbly thank you for your support. Michael F. Collins, MD John G. O’Brien Chancellor, University of Massachusetts Medical School President and CEO Senior Vice President for the Health Sciences UMass Memorial Health Care University of Massachusetts P a g e 1 Albert Sherman stands next to the beam that topped off the building that will bear his name. Architectural rendering of the Albert Sherman Center. the power to change the face of medicine The power to change the face of medicine Under a clear blue sky, hundreds of people from the UMass When fully operational, the Sherman Center is projected to Medical School community strolled onto the green-grass support 1,600 jobs and $264 million in annual economic carpet at the edge of the Albert Sherman Center construction activity throughout the commonwealth. More than 100 site on Wednesday, June 15, 2011, to sign a white steel beam. investigators and their staffs will work in open lab spaces Then they watched as it was hoisted to the top of the that encourage collaboration and interaction. nine-story building, marking the completion of the highest level of the building. “At a time when others must put plans on hold, this dynamic campus boldly prepares for a future where the Chancellor Michael F. Collins led the topping off ceremony, sparks of innovative research and teaching come together to paying tribute to Albert “Albie” Sherman, former vice chan- create a fire of translational discoveries that could change the cellor for university relations, and recognizing many of those face of medicine,” said Collins. involved in the conceptualizing, design and construction of the building. “This is a transformative project,” Chancellor Also speaking at the ceremony were Massachusetts Life Collins said. “We believe that the research efforts that will Sciences Center President and CEO Susan Windham- be undertaken in this building will yield seminal scientific Bannister, Worcester City Manager Michael O’Brien, State discoveries that ultimately will lead to pioneering treatments Senator Harriette Chandler, UMass Building Authority and cures that will benefit all of mankind.” Executive Director David MacKenzie and former UMass President Jack Wilson. Scheduled to be completed in late 2012, the Sherman Center will double UMass Medical School’s research capacity and ex- Scheduled to be completed in late pand its current educational space to support the new learner- centered Medical School curriculum. This interdisciplinary, 2012, the Sherman Center will state-of-the-art research and education facility will foster double UMass Medical School’s interaction and collaboration among scientists and promote innovation and synergies across disciplines. In particular, the research capacity and expand its Advanced Therapeutics Cluster, a major new initiative to be housed in the Sherman Center, will dramatically expand the current educational space to Medical School’s research efforts and focus some of the best support the new learner-centered minds in the world on creating new therapies for many debilitating diseases. Medical School curriculum. the power to change the face of medicine P a g e 3 The power to fight disease There is a new champion in the fight against amyotrophic The UMass ALS Champion Fund, which was unveiled at lateral sclerosis (ALS, or Lou Gehrig’s disease) and a Fenway Park in May, is designed to help Brown and his new fund to support research at UMass Medical School colleagues to pursue ALS research leads and breakthroughs (UMMS), where striking breakthroughs have already been immediately, rather than having to wait to attract funding made in understanding this fatal disease. from traditional sources. As a result, this fund will make researchers at UMMS better prepared to seize the moment Former Massachusetts Gov. Paul Cellucci is using his for- when highly promising ALS discoveries are made. midable political connections to raise funds for the UMass ALS Champion Fund, an endowment supporting ALS Brown has been a leading visionary for ALS treatment and research conducted by Robert H. Brown Jr., DPhil, MD, part of nearly every fundamental ALS breakthrough to date, chair of the Department of Neurology at UMass Medical including the identification of mutations in a gene that is School, and his colleagues. Gov. Cellucci revealed in early responsible for 20 to 25 percent of the familial form of the 2011 that he has ALS and is a patient of Dr. Brown. disease. Brown’s discovery opened a window into ALS that has changed the research landscape profoundly and given people “I am proud to continue my career in public service by lead- something quite rare in the field of ALS: hope. ing the UMass ALS Champion Fund,” said Celluci, who is also a former U.S. ambassador to Canada. “A champion ALS is a neurodegenerative disorder that causes progressive helps to deliver great victories, and Dr. Brown is a true muscle weakness, leading to paralysis and eventually death. champion of ALS research. But, victories are a team effort There is no treatment that does anything but even slightly and Dr. Brown and his colleagues at UMass Medical School slow the progression. The research efforts of Brown and his need our support.” team are allied with UMass Medical School’s Nobel Prize-winning research in the field of RNA biology. For more information about the UMass ALS Champion Fund, visit www.umassals.com. An ongoing partner in the ALS fight Another champion that has partnered with the Medical School in the fight against ALS is The Angel Fund. Based in Massachusetts, The Angel Fund receives support from many community outreach efforts, including the Sharon Timlin Memorial 5K Race that was established in memory of the mother of former Red Sox pitcher, Mike Timlin. In con- junction with other fundraising events, The Angel Fund has contributed more than $650,000 to UMMS to date, all in support of ALS investigations in Dr. Brown’s internationally recognized laboratory, the Cecil B. Day Laboratory for Neuromuscular Research. Rich Kennedy, president of The Angel Fund, is an ardent advocate for ALS research; he lost both his father and brother to the disease. “I like to consider us as one big family of like-minded individuals who all have shared a great loss,” Kennedy said. “That is why we do this, why it is so important to us and why we will never stop until there is a cure for this terrible disease.” P a g e 4 Governor Paul Cellucci (center) is joined by Chancellor Michael F. Collins (left) and Robert H. Brown Jr., DPhil, MD, at a press conference announcing the creation of the UMass ALS Champion Fund. the power to fight disease The power to support families in need For parents of a child who has been hospitalized due to a life “We could not have gotten through our ordeal without that threatening illness, being with that child as much as possible support,” Heather said, “But we also saw other families who is their main priority. Dealing with seemingly ordinary issues, were not as fortunate.” such as travel to and from the hospital, parking and meals are often far from their minds. Yet when that hospital stay is In response to that need, the couple started the Tyler Founda- long-term, those secondary matters can become burdensome, tion to assist families of children who are patients at UMass incurring financial and logistical challenges that can compli- Memorial Children’s Medical Center or Children’s Hospital cate a decidedly stressful time. Boston, where Tyler had been treated. The Foundation pro- vides meals, gas cards and financial assistance for the pur- Families of children with epilepsy who are patients at UMass chase of therapeutic equipment.